God decides to liberate his people from slavery, and he’s going to use Moses to do it.
It turns out, Moses is less than a willing participant. In this well known story, God appears to Moses in a burning bush and tells Moses that he’s sending him back to Egypt to bring his people out of slavery.
How did Moses respond to God’s command?
By doubting that he was the man for the job. Moses lists three objections to following God.
Objection #1
But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
-Exodus 3:11
When God asks us to do something bold in our lives, why is our response so often self-doubt?
We wonder why God would choose us. We question our ability when compared to the task at hand.
Where are you dealing with self-doubt?
Is there an area of your life God is seeking to empower you, but you feel yourself shrinking away?
God tells Moses (and us!) that we do not need to doubt ourselves because God will be with us.
Instead of asking Who Am I? We must remember Who God Is.
Even still, Moses has a second question for God:
Objection #2
“What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?”
-Exodus 4:1
It can make us feel vulnerable or self-conscious to live openly as followers of God. We may wonder if others will believe that we’ve truly experienced God.
Moses struggles with the same insecurity.
He wonders if the Israelites and the Egyptians alike will doubt that he’d actually heard from God.
God encourages Moses not to allow the skepticism of others to derail the way we live our faith today.
We live for an audience of One.
Live confidently. Live boldly. Live for God.
Moses has yet another objection:
Third Objection
“Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”
-Exodus 4:10
Does public speaking make you nervous? Moses was terrified of it. He questioned his ability to speak in front of others and wondered whether he’s capable of fulfilling what God has asked him to do.
What makes you nervous? Is there a part of your life that you hold back from God because you are scared to use it?
You are not alone.
Moses held back his voice from God.
I absolutely love God’s response: “Who gave human beings their mouths?”
Remember this the next time you doubt yourself. God made you, so God will use you.
During times of uncertainty, repeat that to yourself—“God made me. God will use me.”
After all of this, do you think Moses is ready to go and serve God wholeheartedly?
Not quite.
But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”
-Exodus 4:13
Moses’ anxiety and self-doubt got in the way of his ability to follow God, at least momentarily.
May it not be so with us.
Learn from Moses’ mistakes and fully commit your life to God— even the parts of you that lack self-confidence.
God made all of you! God will use all of you.
This Sunday we will conclude our 40 Days Of Discipleship series. Don’t forget to come to breakfast in the Fellowship Hall at 8:30 am.
See you on Sunday!
-Pastor David
